Box load brace



H. C. PIERCE BOX LOAD BRACE Aug. 26, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 25, 1947 mmvrox lax WI H. C. PIERCE BOX LOAD BRACE Aug. 26, 1952 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 25, 1947 I v vI 6H1)? INVENTOR.

I BY ATTaP/J/EY Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX LOAD BRACE Harold C. Pierce, Pomona, Calif.

Application July 25, 1947, Serial No. 763,692

8 Claims.

This invention' has to do with the loading of boxed produce for shipment in refrigerator cars, and relates particularly to improvements in braces or spacers for supporting and maintaining the load units in fixed predetermined relation in the car. While applicable to the loading of boxed fruit and vegetable produce in general, the invention has special adaptability to the loading of produce such as grapes, melons and the like contained in boxes arranged top up in stacked rows alined transversely and longitudinally of the car. In certain of its aspects, the invention represents improvements in types of brace units disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 624,008, filed October 23, 1945, on Boxed Produce Car Loading.

One object of the invention is to provide improvements in a type and form of brace or spacer element insertible between the transverse stack rows to space the rows apart by engagement with the adjacent corner portions of upper and lower pairs of boxes in each row. In general, the spacers may have the form of individual units or blocks placed at the outside corners of the transverse rows, and in overlapping relation with the intermediate boxes at their adjacent corners. As will appear, the units may bearranged to overlap the adjacent top and bottom side surfaces of vertically adjacent boxes in the stack rows, or the units may so overlap only such alternate portions of the boxes, since by either arrangement the units will serve to maintain the transverse stack rows in spaced relation.

In one of its aspects, the invention is particularly concerned with improvements in means for vertically supporting the individual units and for maintaining them against transverse shifting. Preferably, the units are composed of spacer blocks inserted between the transverse rows and carrying projections received between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent boxes to vertically support the blocks, and received also between adjacent vertical walls of the boxes to eposition the blocks against displacement longitudinally of the spaced rows. The invention particularly contemplates a form of projection permitting interengagement of the box surfaces between which it is received, and having the form of a single metallic piecehaving angular flange portions, one of which enters between the top and bottom surfaces of the boxes While the other is received between their vertical faces.

A further important object of the invention is to provide spacer means, which typically may have the described unit form, capable of shifting 2, some or all of the boxes transversely of thecar to compact the load against the side walls of the car, in response to displacement of the boxes longitudinally of the car. It is common practice to load the car from its ends toward the center space between the doors, and to put into that space a so-called car squeeze, a machine which operates to displace and compact the load sections toward opposite ends of the car. Suitable bracing then is inserted to prevent return shifting of the boxes toward the center space. In accordance with the invention, I have provideda novel spacing means which may serve the dual functions of maintaining the boxes in spaced relation, and of shifting and transversely compasting them in the car, as the load is longitudinally compressed by the car squeeze. For this purpose, I employ a spacer unit having the wedge characteristics such that upon movement longitudinally of the car, the unit engages an end portion of the box to which it is applied, and shifts the box transversely toward the car side wall.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of certain typical and illustrative embodiments, will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing arrangement and spacer units;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the center wedge spacer and associated :box cor ners; i

Fig. 3 is a view showing a form of end spacer contemplated by the invention; and

Figs. 4 to 9 are perspective views illustrating various forms of spacer units contemplated by the invention, and adapted for use at different locations in the load, as will hereinafter appear.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have illustrated a load embodying the invention and contained within a conventional railroad freight car havinga floor 46, a pair of side walls 41 and a pair of end walls 48 (only one shown). The boxes ID the load are loaded into the car in vertical stacks ll [a in Fig. 3 are spaced at l5 from the wall. Before considering the placement and arrangement of the spacer units in the load, reference first may be had to the particular form of the units shown in Figs. 4 to 6.

The unit l6 illustrated in Fig. 4 is shown to comprise a block l1 carrying a relatively thin metallic projection l8, the inner end IQ of which is driven into or otherwise secured centrally to the block. Projection 18 preferably is vformed of a single piece of sheet metalhaving a vertical portion 20 which may be corrugated for reena horizontally projecting flange 22. forming the projection is sufficiently thin to permit interengagement of the box surfaces between which portions 20 and 22 are received, :as will appear.

The unit 23 shown in Fig. 5, similarly-comprises a block 24 into which is driven the projection-25 having a pair .of oppositely turned horizontal flanges 26.

Unit 21 illustrated in Fig. 6, comprises the block 28 carrying .projection '29 with oppositely turned -flanges 30. The block carries tabove projection 29 and in vertical alinement therewith,.a wedge '3! of suitable .form andconsisting typically "of a tapered staple driven into the block.

In making up-the load, theboxes are stacked into the car from the tends toward the center in successively built'up.transverseirows [2. :As the boxes :are stacked, units 16 are applied to 'the adjacent corner :portions of vertically :successive-ora'lternate end boxesinone of each transverse' row 122 of adjacent pairs thereof, .by insertion of flange =22 between the 'top and "hot-- tom-surfacesof the" boxes,:asillustratedin Fig.1. The transverse rows thus are spaced: at .32 .by and intaccordance with the ithickness of vthelblocks, and "the :latter are supported vertically by the flanges 22 an'd'are heldragain'st "shifting inwardly of the load'by .engagementiof portions 20 of the projections against the :sides :of "the :.boxes. Spacer units .23 are placed at corresponding "vertical:intervals between the adjacent :corner Apertions of stacks 1 la and I lb,:by.'.insertion of the corrugated vertical portions vof .the projections 25 between the adjacent vertical walls .of the boxes,-the Iprojection flanges being received between'the engaged top and bottom surfaces of vertically adjacent boxes. Units 27 similarly maybe ,placed between theboxesat a centraLor other inner locationwithin'the load .inithe :same relation .with respect to projection :29 and its flanges 430, as stated with .reference to .unit 23. The =wedge=3l is alined with any space between the longitudinal vertical faces of "the boxes to which .the -unit is aapplied, so that i as load is compressed longitudinally of the car, the Wedge may enter and expand the spaces rat :33. .At .this point it may be mentioned that 1 if desired, the unit :21 :may carry wedges projecting from uppositesfaces oflthe-block. .Thus asrshownin' Fig. 71-12118 -.unit::2la:may consist:of. a block 28a carry.- ingtprojection 29a (like 29 F6) having flanges 30a "and wedges -3Ia. projecting in ?the same vertical plane :from :opposite.:faces .in :the block. The doublewedges 3'lathustm'aybe thrust into spaces "33 to positively displace the boxes at both.sides of the'transversespace 32.

fume-spacer units IE6, .23wndl21vthus are inserted-betweentheboxessand rowsin 'th'e unanner. described, asltheloadis putiintoithexear from m'omimltewnds =towardra. :central :space,:and the '4 loaded sections at opposite sides of the space compressed by the above-mentioned car squeeze to displace and compact the boxes longitudinally of the car, or in the direction of rows (3. As the box edges are pressed against the wedges 3!, the boxes in each transverse row at opposite sides of the wedge, are shifted transversely to bring block l6 into snug engagement with the car side walls I4.

Fig. 2 shows the wedge 31 to =.be"f1illy thrust between the boxes to open'th'e space 33 and to have displaced the boxes from an initial dotted line position lfld to the solid line position Hie.

'Instead of transversely compacting the load by shifting the boxes outwardly against the car I side walls, the load may be compacted in a transversewdirection byzdisplacing the boxes inwardly from the car walls into snug or tight interengagement. In this instance units 21 may be replaced by units like 23, and units I6 replaced by spacers of the form: shown in F1gs.:8 and 9. The spacer of Fig. 8 comprises .an angular block 35 having an integral or attached :portion '36, and carrying the :projection 31 and wedge 38. The unit may be used :at either side of the load by inserting tone of the flanges 39 adjacent top and bottom box .-surfaces, with one side of the wedge-33 brought to bear against theouter edge or faceof the associated box. The side of the block carrying the projection 36 bears against thezcar'wall. As the load is compressed longitudinally in the car, the consequent shifting of the boxes causes the wedges "38 to displace the boxes'inwardly into compact interengagement, while of course the outside of the block remains engaged against the car wall.

The units .shown in 9 may be similarly used .at theends of the transverse rows. to shift and compact :the boxes inwardly. .Here the unit tcomprises .a pair of :double .face *wedge blocks =40 connected ;by a spacer block 41 Land-1a horizontal thin metal gprojecti'on :42 received in aznotch 45 centrally located inthe block :40 and extending outwardly adjacent "block ll. Referring :to'Fi'g. :3, the iunitis positioned by placing blocks "lo'zagainst ithe car wall with block T4 I inserted within. space 32 between :the "transverse rows. :Bmjecti'orr"4'2 .is'receivedibetween the top and 'bottom surfaces of :the boxes. Initially-the boxes may be positioned as indicated by the dotted'lines (ma. As the load is compressed, -the box corners -are :moved i-an'd displaced inwardly along the wedge surf-aces W3, shiftingthe boxes inwardly "from "the-'car "walls distances depending upon the lead 'displacement, the "maximum distancetbeing rea'ch'e'd when the-boxes override the'surtaces d'ii' onto the'block faces at.

' Gertain features "of the Fig. 9 type *of spacer are more particularly dealt with -an'd claimed in my 'copen'ding application Number 57,500, "filed October 30, l94'8, on Bracing System for Box Car Loads, 'whieh is tobe considered a centinuation in part of the present application.

1. For use in 'a boxe'd produee loaid *compr'ising boxes'placed instacked-rows alined and running transversely and "longitudinally of th'e load; 39. wooden block Zinserted between and spacing apart th'e adjacent corner portions of adjacent upper and -lowe'r opposed pairs of boxes'in each of adjacent transverserows, a wedge shaped projection carried by said blockand having a pair of relatively angular surfaces engaged against iand received between the adjacent side walls-T01 aipa'irof the boxesend operableto the last mentioned boxes apart transversely of the load in response to compression of the box load longitudinally, and a projection extending horizontally from said block and received between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent boxes.

2. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a body to be inserted between and spacing apart longitudinally of the load the adjacent corner portions of adjacent upper and lower opposed pairs of boxes in each of adjacent transverse rows, and a metallic projection adapted to be carried by said body and to extend between the adjacent vertical walls of one of said pairs of boxes, said projection having an integral laterally turned flange portion receivable between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent lower and upper boxes.

3. A boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a body inserted between and spacing apart longitudinally of the load the adjacent corner portions of adjacent upper and lower opposed pairs of boxes in each of adjacent transverse rows, and a metallic projection carried by said body and extending between interengaging vertical walls of one of said pairs of boxes, said projection having an integral laterally turned flange portion received between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent lower and upper boxes.

4. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a body to be inserted between and space apart longitudinally of the load the adjacent corner portions of adjacent upper and lower opposed pairs of boxes in each of adjacent transverse rows, and a metallic projection carried by said body and adapted to extend between the adjacent vertical walls of one of said pairs of boxes, said projection having a pair of oppositely and laterally turned flange portions received between the top and bottom surfaces of one of said lower and upper pairs of boxes.

5. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a spacer including a body to be inserted between and space apart adjacent transverse box rows, said spacer including means carried by said body and projecting to a location above a portion of one of said boxes to vertically support the spacer in the load, and a projection having a pair of relatively angular surfaces adapted to engage against and between side walls of adjacent boxes in one of said rows and operable to shift the boxes transversely of the load in response to compression of the box load longitudinally.

6. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a spacer including a body to be inserted between and space apart adjacent transverse box rows, said spacer including means adapted to be received between the top and bottom surfaces of adjacent boxes and including also a projection having a pair of relatively angular surfaces adapted to be engaged against and between the sides of adjacent boxes in one of said rows, said projection being operable to shift the boxes transversely of the load in response to compression of the box load longitudinally.

7. For use in a boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a spacer member to be inserted between and space apart adjacent transverse box rows, a wedgeshaped spreader member attached to said spacer member and having relatively angular surfaces to be engaged against and between the vertical sides of adjacent boxes in said load, said member being operable to shift the last mentioned boxes transversely of the load in response to compression of the box load longitudinally, said spreader member having a vertical dimension substantially smaller than the vertical dimension of said spacer member, and means for vertically supporting said member in its said box engaging position.

8. A boxed produce load comprising boxes placed in stacked rows alined and running transversely and longitudinally of the load, a plurality of spacer members interposed between and spacing apart opposed portions of adjacent boxes in said load, and tapering wedge members attached to and projecting from said spacer members to locations between adjacent boxes in said load, said wedge members having oppositely facing box engaging surfaces with first substantially parallel portions adjacent said spacer members and second relatively converging wedge portions outwardly beyond said parallel portions.

HAROLD C. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,402,808 Ellis June 25, 1946 2,415,368 Pierce Feb. 4, 1947 

